7/12 Game 2 Cardinals (Wainwright) @ Cubs (Wells) 7:05 ESPN

[chuckywang]

Lou at the post game interview: "Two things: get healthy, stay healthy, and swing the bats. We do those two things, and we'll be in good position."

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Lou at the post game interview: "Two things: get healthy, stay healthy, and swing the bats. We do those two things, and we'll be in good position."

 

Given the makeup of your team, Lou, I doubt either of those things will happen.

[Cynosure]

how does this journeyman loser have an ERA under 1.00? oh that's right he pitches for the cardinals.

 

 

Well, that and performance enhancing drugs.

 

they prefer to call them "pixie dust"

 

dave duncan

[RedFlash]

Here's to the Cubs stepping on and over the medocrity that is the Cards and Brewers. Here's to the Cubs finally showing up and playing like that 97 win team of 2008. Here's to a great and fun 2nd half.

[TruffleShuffle]

bradley's AB:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/numlocation.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&batterX=090712_213737&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

baker:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/numlocation.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&batterX=090712_214043&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

hoffpauir:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/location.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&batterX=090712_214245&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

 

two bad strikes, on the first two punchouts, although i'd argue that strike 1 to bradley was a high strike that hadn't been there all game.

[erik316wttn]

The bottom of the 9th was the biggest [expletive] inning I've ever seen.

[TruffleShuffle]

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/zoneplotn.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&sp_type=1

 

total game plot of balls and called strikes.

 

pitches inside strike zone called incorrectly: cub pitchers 3, cardinal pitchers 0

pitches outside strike zone called incorrectly: cub pitchers 3, cardinal pitchers 5

 

so yeah, the cubs did get a little screwed by blue in that one.

 

btw this is my new favorite thing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

bradley's AB:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/numlocation.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&batterX=090712_213737&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

baker:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/numlocation.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&batterX=090712_214043&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

hoffpauir:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/location.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_07/day_12/gid_2009_07_12_slnmlb_chnmlb_2//pbp/pitchers/211041.xml&batterX=090712_214245&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

 

two bad strikes, on the first two punchouts, although i'd argue that strike 1 to bradley was a high strike that hadn't been there all game.

 

Yeah, Bradley got screwed on strike 3, but they almost had to makeup for the Johnson trap. Baker also got shafted on strike 3, but hes Jeff Baker and no good would have come out of the at bat. Hoffs were 3 strikes, like it or not.

[BCVM22]

Marshall said he was surprised by Piniella’s move.

 

“A little bit, then when he said it, it made sense because I knew who was coming up for the next two hitters. It was kind of funny to watch (Aaron) Heilman pitch because he was throwing so many pitches inside because if he does hit it will it will be right at me and hopefully I can make a play and throw someone out,” said Marshall, who added the fans in the bleachers were chanting “We are Marshall.”

 

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was so impressed by Piniella’s move he stopped Cubs first base coach Matt Sinatro to pass on his message.

 

“I stopped Sinatro and said you tell Lou that was a classic. It was fun to be a part of it no matter how it turns out. It takes creativity and it takes guts. Lou showed both of them. That was fun actually. It was terrific,” said La Russa.

 

Heh. Good to see Marshall took it in stride.

[JonJayCutler]

I thought all the called strike threes were borderline, could have went either way. That said, all of them were too close to take with two strikes, yet we took all three. Franklin deserves credit as well, almost perfect pitch location the entire inning. Even if we make contact, chances are we go down 1-2-3.

 

I told myself going into this series I'd be happy with a split. 3.5 back with four games against the 26-61 Washington Nationals immediately after the break. Anything less than three wins there will be considered a huge disappointment. I would say we need to sweep but its hard to sweep a four-game set on the road, regardless of who the opponent is.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I guarantee we split with Washington.

[RedFlash]

I guarantee we split with Washington.

 

If we split with Washington, that's as bad as losing the series to them.

[ArthurVandalay]

Franklin deserves credit as well, almost perfect pitch location the entire inning.

 

True, I don't think he missed his spot on any of those pitches.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Why is the strike zone the exact same height for every player?

[Cynosure]

Why is the strike zone the exact same height for every player?

 

Good question.

[TruffleShuffle]

Why is the strike zone the exact same height for every player?

 

it's not, the zone is adjusted just like it is when you follow along on gameday. of course mike fontenot and derrek lee don't have the same zone.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Why is the strike zone the exact same height for every player?

 

it's not, the zone is adjusted just like it is when you follow along on gameday. of course mike fontenot and derrek lee don't have the same zone.

 

It goes from exactly 1.5 to 3.5 vertical feet in every graph posted.

[TruffleShuffle]

Why is the strike zone the exact same height for every player?

 

it's not, the zone is adjusted just like it is when you follow along on gameday. of course mike fontenot and derrek lee don't have the same zone.

 

It goes from exactly 1.5 to 3.5 vertical feet in every graph posted.

 

they use different strike zones for every batter and then normalize them. of course they don't use the same strike zone for every batter.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

they use different strike zones for every batter and then normalize them. of course they don't use the same strike zone for every batter.

 

That's weird.

 

Well, it's not weird that they normalize for the strike zones. It's weird the way they present the final results.

[Guest]

they use different strike zones for every batter and then normalize them. of course they don't use the same strike zone for every batter.

 

That's weird.

 

Well, it's not weird that they normalize for the strike zones. It's weird the way they present the final results.

It's not weird at all. The only way to show the data and have it make any sense is to show a standard display. All it is showing is how far the ball is either inside or outside of the hitters strike zone. 1.5 inches out of the zone is 1.5 inches out of the zone. It doesn't matter how big or small the zone is, it is irrelevant.

 

I think it is fantastic as long as the accuracy of the data can be confirmed with an outside measurement.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

they use different strike zones for every batter and then normalize them. of course they don't use the same strike zone for every batter.

 

That's weird.

 

Well, it's not weird that they normalize for the strike zones. It's weird the way they present the final results.

It's not weird at all. The only way to show the data and have it make any sense is to show a standard display. All it is showing is how far the ball is either inside or outside of the hitters strike zone. 1.5 inches out of the zone is 1.5 inches out of the zone. It doesn't matter how big or small the zone is.

 

I think it is fantastic as long as the accuracy of the data can be confirmed with an outside measurement.

 

Then the Y axis shouldn't be labeled from 0 to 6 (or whatever) feet, because it's not exactly that. A ball listed at 2.5 vertical feet may or may not be 2.5 feet off the ground, depending on the batter it was thrown to.